Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s infuriated after Labor MP Harriet Shing ignored concerns
Labor MP Harriet Shing rejects concerns from IBAC over a parliamentary inquiry in a letter that left Victoria’s anti-corruption investigator aggrieved.
Labor MP Harriet Shing dismissed a list of detailed concerns from IBAC Commissioner Robert Redlich over a parliamentary inquiry in a five-paragraph letter that left Victoria’s anti-corruption investigator deeply aggrieved.
In the one-page letter, dated June 24, Ms Shing ignored significant points raised in an earlier complaint from Mr Redlich QC, or batted them away in brief terms.
The letter, sighted by The Australian, is believed to have triggered the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission’s submission that branded Ms Shing “unresponsive” and claimed she was responsible for “disappointing shortcomings”.
The letter from Ms Shing – recently promoted by Premier Daniel Andrews into cabinet as the Minister for Water, Regional Development and Equality – rejects Mr Redlich’s concerns that her integrity and oversight committee’s witness welfare inquiry compromised live IBAC investigations.
“The committee has initiated and conducted its review of integrity agencies’ management of witness welfare ... while complying with (not prejudicing IBAC investigations),” the then committee chair states.
“Under ... longstanding parliamentary law and custom ... the committee set the parameters for this review of witness welfare, called for and received evidence, and determined the basis upon which any evidence was accepted by it, public, wholly confidential or partly confidential.”
Relations between IBAC and the Andrews government melted down on Tuesday after The Australian revealed the contents of the agency’s submission that was highly critical of the Labor-led IOC and Ms Shing’s conduct.
New IOC chair Labor MP Gary Maase issued a counter-attack on Tuesday, saying the “language in IBAC’s submission only further demonstrates” why the witness welfare inquiry was necessary.
In the June 24 letter, Ms Shing informed Mr Redlich that the “committee’s review examines the appropriateness and effectiveness of integrity agencies’ systems, policies and practices for the management of the welfare of witnesses and related persons”.
Her letter concludes by telling Mr Redlich the “committee appreciates the contributions IBAC has made to the review so far”.
The Australian understands the brief letter and its tone left Mr Redlich and others at IBAC aggrieved and was a key driver behind the agency taking the step to personally criticise Ms Shing.
In his detailed complaint to Ms Shing on June 10, Mr Redlich set out a range of concerns IBAC had with the conduct of the witness welfare inquiry, including the leaking of confidential submissions and correspondence to the committee.
Mr Redlich detailed IBAC’s concern that the committee’s decision to hold the inquiry was directly linked to events around the suicide of a witness in an ongoing investigation, Operation Sandon.
Ms Shing’s broad invitation to members of the public to make submissions to the inquiry was calculated, IBAC said, to include submissions from Operation Sandon witnesses. Mr Redlich also detailed IBAC’s concerns that the submissions were being viewed by the committee members, which might impact their ability to remain impartial.
Liberal MP Brad Rowswell, deputy chair of the IOC, accused Mr Maas of a “knee-jerk” attack on the watchdog. He said Mr Maas had undermined the committee’s ongoing inquiry into witness welfare issues. “The IBAC commissioner was invited by the committee to make a supplementary submission to (its) inquiry into witness welfare,” he said. “The commissioner is well within his rights to express a view on the process undertaken by the committee.
“What is extraordinary is the undermining of this legitimate submission by (Mr Maas). This knee jerk response is possibly unprecedented and reeks of a limp political attack on a parliamentary process.”
More Coverage
Third senior exit at CFMEU administration
The exit came as confidential documents show the union’s national office was in deficit and the SA branch insolvent.
Flood warnings issued as Cyclone Zelia downgraded
Tropical cyclone Zelia has been downgraded but heavy rainfall continues to lash parts of northwest WA, where severe weather and emergency warnings remain in place.